Types of Hasselblad Lenses

September 28, 2015 georgeck 0 Comment

[fusion_text]Hasselblad V cameras were made over a very long period. They were made between 1957 and around 2008. With a few exceptions, all lenses and bodies are interchangable. It is worth noting that the lens elements and optical formulae are often unchanged, despite major differences in appearance.

C – 1957 to 1982. Chrome (non-T*, plus a very few T*) and Black ( all T*)
The first generation lenses for the Hasselblad cameras were called ‘C’ lenses, named after after their ‘Compur’ shutter. The 6 layer T* coating was introduced in 1971 to improve contrast. All Hasselblad lenses made after this date have a T* coating (except the super rare superachromat lenses). Shutters have a tendency to get stuck on the slower speeds. Correcting this is simple, but does requires the lens to be professionally serviced.

It is worth mentioning that coloured filters for these lenses (red/orange/yellow/green) are most freely available. For later the other types of lens they are rarer and more expensive. This is because by the 1980s most photographers were using colour film and so much fewer filters were sold for black and white.[/fusion_text][one_half last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/imageframe][fusion_text]

80mm Planar Chrome ‘C’ lens

[/fusion_text][/one_half][one_half last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/imageframe][fusion_text]

80mm Planar Black T* ‘C’ Lens

[/fusion_text][/one_half][fusion_text]CF -1982 to 1988
In 1982 ‘CF’ lenses were first introduced to replace the ‘C’ lenses. For some focal lengths the replacement date was a little later.
The major changes were:
– using a ‘Prontor’ shutter, to increase relaibility
– standardising, for most focal lengths, on a 60mm bayonet filter
– adding an ‘F’ mode so the lenses can be used with a body’s focal plane shutter
– removing the self-timer
– rubber gripping surfaces on the focusing ring

[/fusion_text][imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/imageframe][fusion_text]

80mm Planar ‘CF’ Lens

[/fusion_text][fusion_text]

F -1977 to 1990
‘F’ lenses do not have a shutter. They can only be used on the 200 and 2000 series cameras, which have a focal plane shutter. They are not usable on the 500 series cameras, such as the 500C/M and 500EL/M.

FE/TCC -1991 to 2003
‘FE’ lenses have a databus to allow the lens to communicate the aperture to the camera body, when using a built in light meter such as the 205TCC.
They can only be used on the 200 and 2000 series cameras, which have a focal plane shutter. They are not usable on the 500 series cameras, such as the 500C/M and 500EL/M.

[/fusion_text][one_half last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/imageframe][/one_half][one_half last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/imageframe][/one_half][one_half last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]

120mm Makro Planar ‘CFE’ Lens

[/fusion_text][/one_half][fusion_text]CB -1997 to 2000
Hasselblad made a more economic version of certain lenses (60/80/120/160 mm). They were only slightly less expensive than the CFE versions and did not sell in huge numbers. They do not have an ‘F’ setting, so cannot be used with the focal plane shutter in 200 and 2000 series cameras.

60mm Distagon ‘CB’ Lens

[/fusion_text][fusion_text]

CFE -1998 onwards
CFE lenses were introduced at the same time as the CFi lenses. The CFE lenses have databus to allow the lens to communicate the aperture to the camera body, when using a built in light meter. Otherwise, they are technically similar to the CFi lenses.

You can also use these lenses on cameras which do not have a light meter.

Major changes in the CFE and CFi lenses, over the preceeding CF lenses are:
– Nivarox mainspring, to improve reliability
– new focusing helicoids
– locking PC contact, for flash or digital back
– improved internal anti-reflective coatings
– non-metalic front filter ring, with no black coating to wear off

110mm F2 ‘FE/TCC’ Lens

[/fusion_text][/one_half][fusion_text]CFI -1998 Onwards
CFI lenses are improvements over the CF lenses. They are very similar to the CFE lenses, though do not have a databus.
[/fusion_text][fusion_text]

CFi Lens

[/fusion_text]